DONALD Trump is set to make his first foreign trip since winning the election to rekindle his bromance with buddy Emmanuel Macron.
The president-elect will attend the reopening celebration for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this weekend alongside the French president.
After over five years of reconstruction due to a destructive fire in 2019, the cathedral is scheduled to reopen this coming Saturday. The fire had nearly destroyed the iconic Paris landmark, but now it is ready to welcome visitors once again.
Around 50 heads of state and government officials are anticipated to participate in the heavily guarded events set for Saturday and Sunday to commemorate the reopening of Notre Dame.
Trump announced that he would be among them in a post on his Truth Social site last evening.
In a statement, he expressed his excitement for the upcoming trip to Paris, France, to attend the grand reopening of the historic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has undergone full restoration following a catastrophic fire half a decade ago.
In the immediate aftermath of the inferno, Mr Macron promised Notre Dame would be restored “more beautiful than ever” within five years.
After an extensive restoration that took more than 60 months and cost a whopping £600 million, the beautiful church is back on its feet, ready to welcome tourists again.
Trump praised Macron for his work to restore the French beauty.
He said: “President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!”
Trump was president in 2019 when a massive fire engulfed Notre Dame, collapsing its spire and threatening to destroy the 850-year-old edifice.
He watched the inferno in horror, along with the rest of the world.
“So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, offering his advice to the city.
“Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly,” Trump quipped.
But French officials appeared to respond shortly saying: “All means were being used to extinguish the flames, except for water-bombing aircraft which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.”
HALLMARKS OF BROMANCE
After Trump first took office in 2017, his relations with Macron had hallmarks of a bromance.
During Trump’s first term in office, Macron was one of the world leaders who excelled at handling the American president’s whims.
He appeared to build a close bond with Trump, largely through flattery.
During a meeting at the White House, Trump, speaking of his French bromance, said: “They’re all saying what a great relationship we have and they’re actually correct.
“It’s not fake news…we do have a very special relationship.”
Jokingly wiping a piece of dandruff off Macron’s shoulder, Trump added: “In fact, I’ll get that little piece of dandruff off. We have to make him perfect. He is perfect.”
The pair were caught sharing awkward kisses on the cheek and held hands their hands as they walked around.
What body language expert Judi James had to say about the Trump-Macron kiss
- This relationship began like a battleground in terms of the power potential of their greeting rituals.
- But since Macron out-Trumped Trump in terms of eye contact and handshake grip the two leaders have developed a tendency for displays of affection and rapport.
- This is a real toe-curler though with Macron clasping Trump firmly round the back to pull him down to his height for a kiss Francaise.
- Trump appears to struggle which results in a glazed eye to suggest he’s floundering and that painful Demi-pucker of the lips.
- Macron’s rituals suggest he’s still a canny power-broker who manages to catch Trump on the back foot.
On one occasion, Macron shook Trump’s hand so hard that he left a thumbprint mark on it.
Pictures showed the US president grimacing as his French counterpart got him in a vice-like grip when the two met during the D-Day commemorations.
After Trump won another term last month, Macron rushed to win favor with the president-elect.
He was among the first global leaders to congratulate Trump even before the race was officially called for in his favour by leading media outlets.
He wrote: “Congratulations, President Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”
The trip will be Trump’s first abroad since he won November’s presidential election.
He traveled to Scotland and Ireland in May 2023, as a candidate, to visit his local golf courses.
